Motorsports is a family business. Fathers and mothers pass along their love of racing to their progeny and, inevitably, another generation becomes enamored of our sport In drag racing, this is more apparent than in many other realms of the sport. Of course we know which families are winning races and earning championships: the Force gang, the Kalittas, the Bernstein’s, the Hines’, Torrences, the Cuadras and Aranas come immediately to mind.
Add to that the Stanfield family. Aaron Stanfield’s father Greg has been a monumental influence on his son, not just behind the wheel but also in car preparation as it’s Aaron who helped to prep Greg’s Chevrolet Camaro to the NHRA Holley EFI FactoryX title in 2024. Greg Stanfield’s drag racing career has encompassed competition in five different classes where he’s found victory, in addition to his title in Factory X this year.
Greg Stanfield was the first Factory X winner at the 2023 U.S. Nationals, when the class debuted with just a few cars. As usual, Stanfield’s prep was class of the group. He finished this season with four victories and took the inaugural Factory X championship.
Greg Stanfield has competed and won in Pro Stock, Pro Stock truck, Super Stock, Stock, Competition Eliminator, as well as Factory X. He earned his first Super Stock championship in 1990 and followed that with titles in 1992-1994, as well as 2021. He began a protracted Pro Stock stanza in 2002 and posted several top 10 results. In 2008 he earned his first Pro Stock victory at Texas Motorplex and in 2010 he won the prestigious U.S. Nationals as he became runner-up in class to now five-time titleholder Greg Anderson.
Now, with the assistance of longtime partners Janac Brothers Racing and The Rod Shop, together with associate sponsors PJQ and Roasters, Greg Stanfield is returning to Pro Stock under the Elite Motorsports umbrella, joining the largest racing family currently in the NHRA pits and racing alongside his son, Aaron, the Pro Stock class’ points leader. Aaron earned his sixth 2024 victory this past Monday in the 24th Ford Performance NHRA Nationals on The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, bringing a 32-point lead over KB Titan Racing’s Dallas Glenn to the series finale.
“I’m excited,” Greg Stanfield said “To have the opportunity to race professionally with my son, that’s something I can’t pass up! Richard Freeman has created such a good foundation for racers at Elite Motorsports. When I raced before,” he recalled, “everyone had their own engine program. This takes the pressure off trying to build engines, tune them, race them. This way I get all the fun and less of the worrying!”
Family. That word defines Elite Motorsports, according to Elite Motorsports founder and owner Richard Freeman. “We’re looking forward to bringing Greg fully into the Elite Motorsports fold,” Freeman said. “He’s already an extended member of the family, being Aaron’s dad and out here racing national events. It’s going to be good to see him back in a Pro Stock car. Things have changed a little bit since he was racing Pro Stock almost 20 years ago, but he’s badass, so we’re excited to have him on board”
“Everyone is really excited about this,” Stanfield said. “Aaron was a huge advocate for me getting back into Pro Stock racing. Joe and David Janac are so supportive and, of course, are already part of the Elite family. We’re also thankful for the support of Rick and Gil Kirk of the Rod Shop, along with Pat Quinn and Craig Gaultiere. Knowing how much everyone has rallied around this decision makes me all the more excited.”
Look for Greg Stanfield and the entire Elite Motorsports family when NHRA begins its 2025 season on the Gainesville Raceway dragstrip during the Amalie Motor Oil Gatornationals next March 6-9.
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